Looking up...
essere abbattuto
/ˈɛs.se.re ab.batˈtuː.do/◆idiom
to feel downcast
Dopo la sconfitta, Marco si sentiva abbattuto.
After the defeat, Marco felt downcast.
informal
To feel emotionally crushed, demoralized, or deeply saddened, often due to a negative event or disappointment.
Dopo aver perso il lavoro, è rimasto abbattuto per settimane.
After losing his job, he felt downcast for weeks.
Non essere troppo abbattuto per un fallimento, è parte del processo.
Don't be too downcast about a failure; it's part of the process.
Commonly used to describe a prolonged state of sadness or discouragement, not just a fleeting emotion.
Collocations
essere abbattuto dalla notiziato be downcast by the newsrimanere abbattutoto remain downcast
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid literal translation
Do not translate 'essere abbattuto' as 'to be knocked down.' Instead, use idiomatic English phrases like 'to feel downcast,' 'to be demoralized,' or 'to feel crushed.'
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'essere abbattuto' for emotional states, not physical ones. For physical demolition, use 'abbattere' (e.g., 'abbattere un muro' = to knock down a wall).
Word Origin
From Italian 'essere' (to be) + 'abbattuto' (past participle of 'abbattere', meaning 'to knock down' or 'to demolish'). The figurative sense of feeling 'knocked down' emotionally emerged in the 19th century.
Usage Notes
This phrase is used in both personal and professional contexts to describe a state of emotional exhaustion or sadness. It is stronger than 'essere triste' (to be sad) and implies a deeper, more persistent feeling.
Word Breakdown
essere
to be
verbabbattuto
knocked down (past participle of 'abbattere')
past participleDizionario Italiano-Inglese